THE POPE'S PEACE PROPOSAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 27 August 1917, Page 8

THE POPE'S PEACE PROPOSAL.

AN AMPLIFYING STATEMENT.

NEW YORK, Aug. 25. Monsignor Gasparri gave out an amplifying statement on the Pope's peace proposal: "The first two points of the Pontifical appeal for peace, treating with disarmament and freedom of the seas, were suggested by President Wilson's message to the Senate. Consequently we are inclined to believe that they will find the same reception in America as when President Wilson proclaimed them. The third and fourth points, re mutual condonation of war expenses and damages, and mutual restitution of occupied territories, were formulated from public speeches by belligerent statesmen, and resolutions passed by their respective Parliaments. Therefore the same statesmen cannot refute them now without contradiction of themI selves. Moreover, it is necessary to I remark, as tit flbndonation of damages caused Wfr the war, there is an exception —applying particularly to Belgium. The fifth and sixth points concern special territorial questions about which the Pope could not propose a definite concrete solution; consequently he confines himself to hoping they will ba examined in a conciliatory spirit. The Pope wishes to emphasise that the appeal was not suggested by any belligerent.

Finally, the Pope said nothing about democracy, because history teaches that a form of Government imposed by arms cannot live, and 'also because people having universal suffrage may choose any form they please. Furthermore, democracy will receive such an impulse from this war that wisdom must prevent it deteriorating into excessive forms, such as anarchy.